Through the close examination of six novels (or anti-novels) from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries this course will seek to define, describe and ultimately understand just exactly what makes up a "modern European novel".

Side by side with our close reading and class discussions of these six novels, students will be asked to give and pay close attention to a series of short oral reports on the authors, genres, traditions, and critical stances that surround these and other texts that fall into the literary category under examination.